U.S. Chamber Praises Action on FAA Reauthorization, Criticizes Administration’s Aviation Budget Proposals

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Janet Kavinoky, executive director of Transportation and Infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement applauding today’s signing of the “Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011” into law.

“By making this four-year legislation the law of the land, Congress and the administration have instilled a certain level of confidence into the psyche of businesses that are part of America’s aviation sector.  Many Americans will be working because of the certainty that this law provides.

“The law provides a blueprint for the Next Generation Air Traffic Control system (NextGen) with benchmarks and performance goals. The challenge to the administration is to make and stick with decisions around technology, modernize its processes and procedures, and adhere to a timeline for delivering benefits.

“NextGen’s success also rests on the ability of airports to handle greater capacity, both physically through runways and terminals, and also through procedural enhancements.  Because the law failed to increase federal funding for airport investments, we call on the administration to strive for full utilization of the airport privatization pilot program to support infrastructure capacity increases, where feasible.

“Unfortunately, the administration’s budget proposal released yesterday would cut funding for the Airport Improvement Program.  It would simultaneously create a new, onerous per-flight tax on all of the users of the National Airspace System for deficit reduction, and triple aviation security taxes but not use the proceeds for improving aviation security.

“The Chamber hopes, as the administration moves forward implementing the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011, it will reconsider these budget proposals.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.